DiaPep277 is a treatment that is derived from the sequence of the human heat shock protein. Research has alluded to the heat stroke protein helping people with T2D but AndromedA Biotech is showing how it proves to benefit people with T1D and LADA, as well.

DIA-AID 1 is a phase 3, double blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of DiaPep277 as a treatment for newly diagnosed T1D. The LADA study was a phase 2, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial that also evaluated the safety and how well people tolerated DiaPep277.

In both of these studies, changes in stimulated C-peptide secretion were measured and slowed the autoimmune attack. The gold standard of beta cell health in the midst of an autoimmune attack is C-peptide because it relays the ability of the insulin-producing cells to respond to glucose.

C-peptide is also shown to be the dog in the race to win for treating and reversing many of the complications observed in long-term T1D, including hypoglycemic unawareness, retinopathy, kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

For decades the goal has been to “cure” T1D. That’s still a great plan and I’d love to see it happen in my lifetime. However, in the meantime, I’d love to see a therapy come to fruition that can restore the levels of C-peptide in people with T1D and LADA.